24 July 2012

Alas Alack - EMILYs List still on Wrong Track

It is all over the Blogs and facebook, but here is what I want to make sure is said about EMILYs List's latest misfire. To recap: EarlyMoneyIsLikeYeast is an organization that hopes to increase political representation by women in DC politics. According to their press releases:

In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY's List raised more than $38.5 million to
support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates,
helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn
out and vote. With a community of more than 1.5 million members across
the country, EMILY's List is one of the largest political action
committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has
worked to elect 87 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 16 to
the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state
legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices.
In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY's List had the largest number of members
and donors in our 27 year history.

Unfortunately, they are burning their brand here in Connecticut with blind gender-based support of several less than stellar candidates. Today's information concerns Elizabeth Esty, female candidate for Congress against Democratic Party endorsed Chris Donovan [duh]Murphy.

For Immediate ReleaseWOMEN VOTE! To Educate Women Voters in ConnecticutWASHINGTON, D.C. -- EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, today announced a new WOMEN VOTE! project in Connecticut’s fifth congressional district.

The press release goes on to explain that, starting this Thursday, EMILYs List will mail five mailing pieces (one every 3 1/2 days) to women who are registered Democrats older than 45.

If I lived in the 5th CD instead of the 3rd CD I would be one of these targeted women. And I would sure as heck be annoyed if I got a mailing piece every 3 - 4 days. I would be pissed that money sent to Emily's list was used to promote someone based on gender equipment and not the facts of qualifications. And I would still be voting for Chris Donovan for Congress.

"Three of the mailers will also showcase Elizabeth Esty’s commitment to Connecticut taxpayers: returning 10% of her own salary and working towards responsible budgeting in the state legislature."

It is worth pointing out that Elizabeth Esty's salary as a State Rep would have been about $40,000, so 10% is $4000 returned to the state. She is a wealthy person to begin with, and without any information on the impetus to tithe back to the state some money that would have been taxable as income, I am not clear what this gesture was intended to accomplish.

Also, the "responsible budgeting" referred to by EMILYs List would have cut tens of millions from health care for children, the elderly, and the poor, as well as closing a magnet in school in her own district, all while making sure that rich didn't have to pay a teeny bit more of their fair share.

Spoiler Alert: That's not responsible budgeting.

Esty sided with Republican Governor Rell instead of Speaker of the House Chris Donovan -- who got a budget passed that protected families and the programs that matter to them, and asked millionaires to pay their fair share!

The choice here is pretty clear, unless, apparently, you are EMILY's List.

Along with their wrong-headed endorsement of Susan "What? Me Worry?" Bysiewicz, EMILYs List has gone all wrong on Connecticut.

People in other states need to re-examine endorsements handed out by this ill-informed group.